PORTLAND, Ore. — A Washington County jury has once again found 46-year-old Norberto Nestor Muniz Jr. guilty of murdering 29-year-old Amy Low of Molalla and burning her body in a backyard fire pit. This second conviction, announced Thursday, comes after Muniz’s original 2022 conviction was overturned by the Oregon Court of Appeals, which ordered a retrial.
The Original Crime and Investigation
The case dates back to November 2018, when Beaverton police officers discovered Amy Low’s remains behind a residence. According to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, the body was found in a backyard burn pile, so badly damaged that investigators could not immediately confirm her identity. It was only in January 2019 that forensic testing officially identified the remains as Low’s.
Neighbors recalled seeing a large bonfire the night before police arrived, with detectives later sifting through the ashes for evidence. Investigators determined that Low had been brutally beaten to death before her body was set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.
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The Arrest of Norberto Nestor Muniz Jr.
As the investigation unfolded, authorities identified Muniz as the primary suspect. In May 2019, with assistance from Portland police, Beaverton detectives located Muniz near Southwest 4th Avenue and Ankeny Street in Portland.
He was initially taken into custody for a parole violation but was soon charged with Low’s murder and first-degree abuse of a corpse. At the time of his arrest, officials revealed that Muniz had recently been released from prison after serving a Measure 11 sentence for first-degree robbery, a serious violent offense under Oregon law.
Muniz was booked into the Washington County Jail and held without bail as prosecutors prepared the case against him.
The First Trial and Conviction
Muniz’s first trial began in January 2022, culminating in a guilty verdict on February 4, 2022. Just four days later, he was sentenced for murder and abuse of a corpse.
However, Muniz’s legal team later appealed the decision, arguing procedural errors during the trial. The Oregon Court of Appeals reviewed the case and overturned the conviction, ordering a new trial to ensure due process.
The 2025 Retrial and Verdict
The retrial began on October 28, 2025, in Washington County Circuit Court. Prosecutors once again presented evidence that Muniz had fatally beaten Low and attempted to conceal the crime by burning her body in his backyard.
After hearing testimonies and reviewing forensic evidence, the jury reached the same conclusion as in 2022 — finding Muniz guilty of murder and first-degree abuse of a corpse.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the verdict reaffirms the strength of the original case despite the retrial.
Awaiting Sentencing
Muniz is currently being held in the Washington County Jail without the possibility of bail. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday, where he is expected to face a lengthy prison term, potentially mirroring his original sentence before it was overturned.
The tragic murder of Amy Low continues to resonate with the Molalla and Beaverton communities, marking one of Washington County’s most disturbing homicide cases in recent years.
